2004-09-16_REVISION - M1999002 (5)

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i~~C~l~t/Ed AMERICAN / SEP~62004 ~ Ed Cooley S O D A, L L P DlvisloaorMineralsandGeofagy Environmental Health and Safety Manager 2717 County Road 215 Parachute, CO 81635 Tuesday, September 14, 2004 Erica Crosby Colorado Department of Natural Resources Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 ENV. 204.04 Re: Technical Revision # 5 to Permit No.M-1999-002 Dear Erica: American Soda LLP has reached a point in its operations at its Piceance Creek Yankee Gulch Sodium Minerals Project whereby economics are requiring an adjustment to the current operations in an effort to preserve the long term viability of the project. The cost of natural gas and electricity have increased at a rate that has so eclipsed the market price of Sodium Carbonate (soda ash) and Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) that we are forced to curtail our operations until such time that economics will allow a return to full operation. We are requesting a Technical Revision to the Division of Minerals and Geology, Mined Land Reclamation Permit No. M-19999-002 to place the Yankee Gulch Sodium Minerals Project in an Interim Status Mode. The changes required to place the operation in Interim Status include: Remove the 4,5 inch injection and production tubing strings from each Class III Injection Well. 2. Set a Cast Iron Bridge Plug in the 7 inch casings of each well to seal the mining zone from the overlying aquifers. Pressure test each well casing to insure Mechanical Integrity of the well at the maximum allowable injection pressure (900 psi). Plug and Abandon any Class III Injection Well that will not maintain 900 psi pressure. P&A procedures approved in the EPA Under Ground Injection Control Permit No. C03858-00000 will be used. Direct Line (970) 285-0407 International telephone +1 (970) 285-6500 General Facsimile (970) 285-6393 Delivering a Crystal Clear Advantage www.americansoda.com